This past week, I traveled to Branson, MO for a short getaway. While there I attended the Country Tonite show at the Oakridge Boys Theatre.
The show is a jammed packed two hours with a brief intermission after the first hour. The first hour will get your blood flowing and your hands clapping with featured singers, high energy dancers, and a little comedy thrown in by host Bob Nichols.
The second hour of the show features guest entertainers from some of country music’s finest. The Country Tonite band pulls it all together with top-notch talented musicians that include Gene Mulvaney on steel guitar, Nathan Agdeppa on fiddle, Casey Smith on drums, Mike McAdoo on guitar, Marty Wilhite on bass guitar (as well as the Music Director), and Randy Luna on keyboard.
Country Tonite includes today’s hottest songs, songs from the 70′s and 80′s, as well as a few new twists to some of country music’s standards. The featured vocalists are Kenya Wilhite, Kim Barber, David Griffin, and Jason Froeschle. All four are extremely talented artists with unique sounds of their own. While their voices blend together in perfect harmony throughout the show, they each showcased their individual talents in solo spots as well.
The most memorable solo performances for me included Kenya Wilhite’s rendition of Dolly Parton’s Jolene. Kenya’s voice lends a soulful and emotional sound to this classic. Kim Barber’s voice was strong with haunting emotion with her performance of Johnny and June. David Griffin has a strong, raspy voice with a little attitude. He grabs your attention with Be My Baby Tonight. Jason Froeschle rounds out the soloist with an upbeat and powerful rendition of the hit from the Zac Brown Band Chicken Fried.
The Country Tonight Band was featured in a performance of The Devil Went Down to Georgia. Charlie Daniel would have been impressed with this talented group and a standout performance from fiddler Jason Agdeppa.
The Country Tonite show is enhanced with great choreography and talented dancers that include Bristol Sosa, Jenn Turner, Jill Perry Fitzpatrick, Tim Ehrenberg, Todd Coker and Stephen Feemster. They add energy and personality to the show. They also added a bit of surprise with some unexpected and skillful clogging.
The second half performance featured multi-platinum recording artist Collin Raye. Raye has five platinum albums and fifteen #1 hits to his credit. He performed some of his standards including I Can Still Feel You, That’s My Story, Little Red Rodeo, and his signature hit Love, Me.
Raye also performed this reviewer’s favorite Little Rock accompanied on keyboard by Melanie Shore. Melanie is extremely talented and also serves as Raye’s Music Director.
Raye performed his current single She’s With Me from his new CD Never Going Back previously reviewed in this blog. She’s With Me is a loving tribute to his granddaughter Haley who has a regressive neurological condition and is physically challenged. Raye spoke openly about Haley’s condition and performed the song with the care and emotion only a loving grandfather could.
Raye gave a strong performance and was personable as always. Having followed Raye’s career from the beginning, I will say without a doubt that his voice only gets stronger and more powerful each and every year. His ability to reach out and connect with the audience continues to enhance each and every performance. He makes himself at home with the crowd with humor and sincerity.
Country Tonite is definitely a must see on your next trip to Branson, MO. The show flows well and is definitely entertaining. You will want to sing along and laugh a little. You will walk away with a smile on your face. I was sad to hear that the show will be closing at the end of this season in December. If you plan on making a trip to Branson do it quickly. You don’t want to miss the chance to see it!
